Diamondbacks overcome rain to defeat Cardinals

ST. LOUIS - This road trip began with the Diamondbacks placing their closer on the disabled list and their general manager saying the team was about to turn over crucial roles to two journeymen relievers and another guy with an ERA north of 6.00.

So, as one would expect, not all has gone smoothly when the bullpen gates have swung open in the past seven days. But, by and large, the unit has held its own, a trend that continued in Thursday night's 4-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in the opening game of a four-game series at Busch Stadium.

"These guys are coming in and pounding the zone and getting outs," right fielder Justin Upton said. "That's all we can ask for."

Starting pitcher Joe Saunders left after tossing five scoreless innings, departing after a near-hourlong rain delay after the fifth inning. That meant Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson had to ask his bullpen to cover four innings in a tight game.

It was up to the task. Right-hander Micah Owings gave up a run in the sixth, but Alberto Castillo, Yhency Brazoban and de facto closer David Hernandez each tossed scoreless innings to nail down the Diamondbacks' fourth victory in seven games on this road trip.

It was the second time in the past four days that the Diamondbacks bullpen played a major part in a victory. After Daniel Hudson was hammered for six runs in four innings on Monday afternoon in Milwaukee, the bullpen combined for five scoreless innings, giving the offense time to chip away at the Brewers lead.

Saunders had issued four walks but worked his way out of every jam, departing with a 1-0 lead after throwing just 78 pitches. Having spent the majority of his career pitching in Southern California, this was a first.

"My first career rain delay," Saunders said. "I probably erred on the side of caution."

After the rain delay - the second of the night following a one-hour, six-minute delay before the start of the game - Saunders tried loosening up in the bullpen but didn't feel right.

Meanwhile, Cardinals right-hander Kyle McClellan remained in the game but served up a two-run home run to Upton, the third batter he faced after the delay.

That made it 3-0 for Owings, the first man Gibson called upon from the bullpen. He had a little trouble, giving up a run on a Matt Holliday double and facing a second-and-third, one-out jam. But Owings struck out Lance Berkman before Yadier Molina flew out to the warning track in left field to end the threat.

Castillo issued a two-out walk but nothing else in the seventh, Brazoban retired the side on nine pitches in the eighth and Hernandez cruised through the ninth.

It was Hernandez's fourth save in as many chances since J.J. Putz was placed on the disabled list a week ago with elbow tendinitis.

The Diamondbacks hope to have their closer back immediately after the break, which would allow Hernandez to slide back into a setup role. Putz tentatively is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Sunday and hopes to be activated July 15.

Diamondbacks rewind

First timer: Left-hander Joe Saunders was upset he had to leave a game in which he had yet to give up a run, but he felt it was best to play it safe given the way his body reacted after trying to get loose following a rain delay.

"Definitely would have liked to have gone (deeper in the game)," Saunders said. "I tried to go back in the bullpen and throw some, but I was shivering I was so cold from sweating so much and then coming back here (to the clubhouse). We thought it best to err on the side of caution and let the bullpen do their thing."

Going deep: Right fielder Justin Upton connected for his second home run in the past three games, a two-run shot off Kyle McClellan immediately after the rain delay.

Manager Kirk Gibson wondered if McClellan might have been less sharp after the delay, but Upton didn't think so.

"He may have been, but it didn't feel like it," Upton said. "He still had the same kind of movement on his pitches."

Upton hit a 1-0 fastball over the heart of the plate.

"I think he was trying to get it inside on me," Upton said, "and it didn't sink as much as he thought."

Mr. Double Play: By inducing two more double plays, Saunders moved into a tie for first-place in the National League with 16 double-play balls.

View from the press box

Sean Burroughs didn't show much during his first stint with the team, but he's swinging the bat with more authority since coming back from Triple-A Reno. He hit a couple of balls sharply Thursday, including a lineout to center that went for a sacrifice fly in the second inning. He was hitting .412 in Reno, so he must have been doing something right. We'll see if he can keep it up the next few days before the break.

July 7, 2011 - Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ryan Roberts, top, turns the double play as St. Louis Cardinals' David Freese is out at second during the fourth inning. Albert Pujols was out at first.